The only time I have faced a scrum of heaving people has been at the Uffizi and The Accademia in Flo

How we use your email Fodor's may use your e-mail address to send you relevant information on site updates, account changes, and offers. For more information about your privacy and protection, please review our full Privacy Policy .
I am travelling to Rome Florence in May. This will be my first trip to Italy. I am still planning the itinerary for our trip and had a question to help me figure out the time we will spend at each site. I have heard numerous horror stories about the lines to get into the most famous of the tourist sites: midtown madness 2 vehicle editor i.e. the Colosseum, Uffizi, etc. but have not heard much about some of the other sites. midtown madness 2 vehicle editor I was hoping someone could tell me the wait times they have experienced in May for any of the following sites and if they know of any ways to minimize the waiting?
I recommend you obtain the Roma Pass because it will save you having to make the ticket line(s), at least in a number midtown madness 2 vehicle editor of listed museums in Rome. I rememembered skipping the line at the Colloseum, Roman Forum, and Musei Capitolini. I got mine at the Termini midtown madness 2 vehicle editor Station- the Tourism Office by Platform 25 (second floor). It is good for three days and it allows unlimited intra-city midtown madness 2 vehicle editor public transportation (metro/bus), free entrance to the first of 3 out 25 listed Rome attractions. The others at deep discounts. The clock starts when you use it for the FIRST time not at the time of purchase. The packet included a useful map and other good information. I paid 25 Euros back in 2010; I heard the price may had gone up.
For the Colosseum, you buy your ticket at Palatine Hill. Almost never a line and the ticket covers PH and the Colosseum. Then, you walk to the left side of the LONG line all the way to the turnstiles and go in. Be brave.
In my travels to the above spots above in Rome, I have never had any line at any of them. There are some places you want to book ahead and try to skip the line - like the Vatican. No lines at any of those other places, midtown madness 2 vehicle editor although the Pantheon does get packed at midday (many places do). You may want to get to the Pantheon early in the AM (doors open very early, not sure when) same thing for the Capitoline Museums. San Clemente can get crowded going down to the Mithrium.
The only time I have faced a scrum of heaving people has been at the Uffizi and The Accademia in Florence. I had reservations for both but it was still an absolute madhouse. It is important to maintain a sense of humour in these situations!
Just one more voice assuring you that there won't be lines at the places you listed in your post. I have seen a few people waiting to buy tickets for certain areas of Santa Croce, but as I said, it was a few people.
I did not encounter lines at any of the places you listed. And I have visited both cities in what many people believe is "high season" (July). For Uffizi I did not make reservations but got there a few minutes before it opened midtown madness 2 vehicle editor and there was only a short line. In fact the line for the ticket holders was longer (but that was only true first thing in the morning). For the Vatican Museum I did what the guide books said - went in the afternoon - and there was still a huge line - and that was in Novemeber! So if you really want to get in there go with ideas above for a guide.